Rates and prospective psychosocial correlates of pre-loss grief in cancer and dementia family members

Singer, Jonathan; Shrout, M. Rosie; Papa, Anthony

doi:10.1177/1359105321995945

Cited by 11 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…A final set of 132 full-text articles underwent qualitative synthesis (see Figure 1 for PRISMA). Two studies 7,20 were added from the review of the databases on April 1, 2021 and another on July 10, 2021. Therefore, 134 full-text articles underwent thematic synthesis (see Figure 1).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given these limitations and an increase in studies since 2014, 7 there is a need for an updated and systematic understanding of the full body of literature that comprehensively examines terms used to describe family members' grief before the death of an individual with a life-limiting illness. Thus, the present systematic review was undertaken to increase conceptual clarity on this grief experience and develop a consistent definition.…”

Section: What This Paper Adds?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…39,118,129 Pre-loss grief There were six studies identified that used pre-loss grief to describe family members' grief while a person with a life-limiting illness was still alive. [7][8][9]85,114,115 There were two studies 7,85 that defined pre-loss grief, whereas the remaining four studies 8,9,114,115 did not define the construct. Hudson et al 85 defined pre-loss grief as follows: "Grief is a process involving some elements of 'loss', which starts before the bereavement and can be onerous" (p. 523).…”

Section: Griefmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hudson et al 85 defined pre-loss grief as follows: "Grief is a process involving some elements of 'loss', which starts before the bereavement and can be onerous" (p. 523). Singer et al 7 similarly used pre-loss grief as more of an umbrella term, defining it as either family members' grief related to the impending loss of their loved one and/ or the loss of components of the relationship with the loved one that existed pre-diagnosis.…”

Section: Griefmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4,5 For example, increasing data trends indicate that family members are likely to experience some level of grief before the person with a life-limiting illness dies. 6,7 The extent to which a family member experiences grief prior to a death occurring has been found to predict long-term functioning in bereavement, including developing depression 8 or prolonged grief disorder. 9,10 However, our current understanding of grief experiences in family members prior to the death is hampered by the lack of a universal definition, the use of multiple terms, and inconsistent operationalization of constructs.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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An examination and proposed definitions of family members’ grief prior to the death of individuals with a life-limiting illness: A systematic review

et al. 2022

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Background: Research has extensively examined family members’ grief prior to the death of an individual with a life-limiting illness but several inconsistencies in its conceptualization of related constructs, yet significant conceptualization issues exist. Aim: This study aimed to identify and characterize studies published on family members grief before the death of an individual with a life-limiting illness, and propose definitions based on past studies in order to initiate conceptual clarity. Design: A mixed-method systematic review utilized six databases and was last conducted July 10, 2021. The search strategy was developed using Medical Subject Headings. This study was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020166254). Results: One hundred thirty-four full-text articles met inclusion criteria. This review revealed across studies a wide variation in terminology, conceptualization, and characterization of grief before the death. More than 18 terms and 30 definitions have been used. In many cases, the same term (e.g. anticipatory grief) was defined differently across studies. Conclusions: We found grief occurring before the death of a person with a life-limiting illness, which we termed pre-death grief, is comprised of two distinct constructs: anticipatory grief and illness-related grief. Anticipatory grief is future-oriented and is characterized by separation distress and worry about a future without the person with the life-limiting illness being physically present. Illness-related grief is present-oriented and is characterized by grief over current and ongoing losses experienced during the illness trajectory. These definitions provide the field with uniform constructs to advance the study of grief before the death of an individual with a life-limiting illness.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: What This Paper Adds?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Griefmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Griefmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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An examination and proposed definitions of family members’ grief prior to the death of individuals with a life-limiting illness: A systematic review

et al. 2022

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Existential distress among family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Walbaum,

Philipp,

Oechsle

et al. 2023

Psycho-Oncology

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ObjectiveCaregiving for a loved one is challenging and requires significant resources. Existential distress in family caregivers may include hopelessness, demoralization, fear of death, pre‐loss grief, or a sense of not being emotionally prepared. The aim of this systematic review is to synthesize the quantitative literature on existential distress among family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer, focusing on its prevalence, association with mental disorders, as well as with sociodemographic, disease, and treatment‐related factors.MethodsWe systematically searched electronic databases for quantitative studies of the above‐described existential distress concepts in family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer. Two independent reviewers extracted data and evaluated study quality. Data were analyzed using random‐effects meta‐analysis.ResultsWe retrieved 17.587 records, of which 31 studies fulfilled inclusion criteria. 63% of the studies (n = 20) provided sufficient data for meta‐analysis for 5558 patients. We found an overall pooled prevalence of 30.6% for existential distress, 95% CI [24.2–37.0]. For existential distress subconcepts, prevalence rates were 57.0%, 95% CI [37.8–76.2], for death anxiety, 13.9%, 95% CI [10.8–17.0], for demoralization, 24.0%, 95% CI [18.0–30.0], for pre‐loss grief, 18.4%, 95% CI [4.0–32.7], for hopelessness, 35.2%, 95% CI [28.2–42.2], for loneliness, and 35.6%, 95% CI [13.0–58.3], for emotional unpreparedness.ConclusionsApproximately one third of the respondents were affected by high levels of existential distress. The review provides evidence for further development of support services that can reduce existential distress, focused on death anxiety, and improve the quality of life for family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer.

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Easing the Journey—an Updated Review of Palliative Care for the Patient with High-Grade Glioma

et al. 2022

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Rates and prospective psychosocial correlates of pre-loss grief in cancer and dementia family members

Cited by 11 publications

References 52 publications

An examination and proposed definitions of family members’ grief prior to the death of individuals with a life-limiting illness: A systematic review

An examination and proposed definitions of family members’ grief prior to the death of individuals with a life-limiting illness: A systematic review

Existential distress among family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Easing the Journey—an Updated Review of Palliative Care for the Patient with High-Grade Glioma

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